Steve Aoki Talks Entering The Fitness Industry With 'Aoki Bootcamp'

Steve Aoki performing at Brixton Academy in London, England - one of over 200 shows he does a year. (Photo: KGC-138/STAR MAX/IPx)

Having already excelled in the worlds of music and food, DJ, producer, and entrepreneur, Steve Aoki, is now looking to conquer the fitness industry.

Aoki Bootcamp, his first foray into the health market, is the result of a partnership between the mogul and NEOU, the fast growing digital fitness platform.

It’s a high-intensity, on-the-go bodyweight workout that can be done anywhere with no equipment necessary. It’s not the first time Aoki’s shared his fitness regimen.

“I've always wanted to do Aoki Bootcamp and deliver it at this level. I’ve been 'running and gunning' and shooting the workouts as I'm doing them and posting them on my Instagram stories and my Snap channels for a while,” Aoki told Forbes.

“The first time I realized that this needed to get on an app was when I did meet and greets with fans at my shows. They would tell me stories of how they've been following my boot camps and lost weight or made fitness gains. After I saw the kind of effect that it had on people, I took it more seriously."

He added: “This is different to what I have done on with my workouts on social media because professional trainers are doing it. When I do it I'm having fun with it, and I'm like, 'Hey, this is my workout. Come train with me.' I will be in some of these workouts but I want people to follow a trainer that understands form, and this is what they do professionally."

In 12 weeks the NEOU app, which has officially launched following a soft rollout, has amassed 120,000 users and has streamed over one million minutes. The app can be downloaded from the Apple App store and on Google Play.

All NEOU downloads from Friday, March 15, 2019, through Wednesday, May 1, 2019, qualify for an introductory limited time offer of $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year with a two-week free trial. After Wednesday, May 1, 2019, regular pricing stands at $12.99 per month or $99.99 per year.

Rather than merely lending his name to the workout, Aoki is putting his own money where his mouth is with this new partnership.

"I am investing in this platform because I believe in the platform. Whenever I invest in something I want to believe in it, and I need to understand the mechanics of how it works,” he told Forbes. “These kinds of services do benefit and help people. I think it's good for everyone to work out. I think it is healthy for the mind and the body.”

“The business here is really in getting people to know that these workouts are efficient and that they are effective. This is strictly motivation. I think that's the most important message here, that if I could do it and it works then I want to share that. I think that's where this business is for me; I'm not looking at this as how much profit can I make off it I'm looking at this as, 'Can this help people in the same place that I'm at.'' If it is effective and helpful for people, then it's a win-win for both of us.”

The workout videos are led by a certified trainer and Steve himself as they guide viewers through Steve's various Aoki Bootcamp intervals - set to his music. Recognized by Forbes as one of the top 5 world’s highest paid DJ’s, multi-millionaire Aoki feels that he is proof that anyone can follow the programme.

“I travel around the world to do between 200 and 300 shows a year, all around the world, so if I can find time to work out, then anyone can. It's only 30 minutes of your time,” he mused.

“My strategy and the main thing I will say to anyone is when you get to where you're going get your workout done as soon as you possibly can. As soon as you check into your hotel, open up the boot camp app and do it right in your room. Pick a workout that is easy and fast and efficient, that gets your heart rate up, gets your muscles activated, gets your core stronger and you're going to feel better. That's the discipline that has kept me going through all these years."

Aoki Bootcamp will join other notable concepts on the platform including WiderStrong by JenWiderstrong, Vixen Workout, Jane Do, ConBody Workout and Push by Joseph D.

Simon Thompson is a freelance producer (TV & Digital), film & entertainment journalist and broadcaster. From the UK, he now lives and works in LA. He's on Twitter and LinkedIn.